Rents are 3% below what Goleta's 10-year trend predicts — a better deal than its own history suggests.
Rent by unit size
These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $3,838 market median above, and that is expected: FMR is the 40th percentile of standard-quality units and counts gross rent, so it includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash. The market median is asking rent, which usually excludes utilities. HUD sets FMR once a year; market rent here updates monthly.
Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents. Read the methodology →
12-month history
Last updated: October 17, 2026
What the numbers show
Rent in Goleta is 0.8% below its high of $3,869 in April 2026, at $3,838 as of September 2026.
Rent in Goleta changed +1.4% over the year to September 2026. Across the 336 California cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.4%.
30% of the median household income ($122,370) is $3,059 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 1-bedroom ($2,940); a 2-bedroom is $3,310.
Lompoc, 17 miles away, rents for 45% less ($2,126/mo), about $20,500 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Goleta. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.
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Who lives here
Goleta, CA is roughly split between renters and owners, has a median income above the national average, 49.4% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Goleta, CA has changed in 5 years
Five years ago, renters in Goleta, CA paid around $3,512 a month. That figure now sits near $3,838, up 9.3% from the 2023 baseline. Local incomes tracked alongside that move, going from a median of $104,830 in 2021 to $122,370 more recently. With wages climbing faster than rent over the same window, renters here have a bit more breathing room than they did five years back. These shifts give renters and would-be renters a longer baseline for sizing up today's listings against the Goleta, CA market of 2023.
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Can you afford rent in Goleta on your salary?
At $3,838/mo, how Goleta rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Goleta rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Goleta. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Goleta
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Goleta is $3,838/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $2,600/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $3,310/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $2,940/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $4,380/mo.
At 38% of local median household income ($122,370/yr), Goleta ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 1.4% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
How much income do you need to rent in Goleta?
Is rent going up or down in Goleta?
How does Goleta rent compare to other cities in California?
Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Goleta?
At $3,838/mo, rent takes ~38% of Goleta's median household income ($122,370/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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